Feeling of Something stuck in the throat is a common complaint. The sensation of a lump in the throat would often cause a lot of anxiety although anxiety may be the culprit in the first place. Patients are naturally worried and frequently fear that the lump sensation may be cancer.
Common causes
Cricopharyngeal spasm .It occurs when the cricopharyngeus muscle (also known as the upper esophageal sphincter) starts to spasm instead of contract and relax. It is the most common cause of the lump throat sensation. These spasms are often made worse by stress and anxiety.
GERD
Gastro esophageal reflux disease is the recurring movement of stomach acid from the stomach back up into the esophagus. It causes heartburn, regurgitation, chest sensations and pain. If the stomach contents reflux up to the level of the larynx, the disorder is called Larygopharrngeal reflux (LPR). LPR is very likely to cause symptoms such as chronic throat clearing, throat phlegm, changes in the voice and the notorious lump in the throat sensation.
Thyroid disorders. This gland regulates the production of many hormones and controls metabolism and growth. An under active thyroid gland, a disorder called hypothyroidism, would cause a sensation of lump in the throat.
Globus Pharyngeus
Globus is the medical term for a sensation of a lump in the throat where no true lump exists. It was once called Globus Hystericus, wrongly suggesting that this is a psychiatric condition. Globus is sometimes also referred to as Globus pharyngeus (pharyngeus is simply the medical term for the throat).
Cervical Spondylosis:
Patients suffering from arthritis in the neck, also known as Cervical Spondylosis may feel a lump in the throat due to projecting osteophytes and increased muscle tension in the neck and around the larynx.
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx (voice box) that can be viral or bacterial in origin; its most common symptoms include hoarseness, loss of voice, constant need to cough, sore throat, difficulty swallowing and lump in throat feeling although the lump feeling could be felt as a tingling sensation in the back of the throat.
Pharyngitis is inflammation of the pharynx that can be viral or bacterial. Its main symptoms are similar to those of a cold –a runny nose, fever, red throat headache and of course lump in the throat.
Investigation and Treatment:
Please read: Lump in the throat
